Baby boy gives Roo extra bounce

Matt Murnane

NORTH Melbourne is excited about what an injury-free and maturing Lachie Hansen could mean to its finals chances this season.

The Roos need to find improvement if they are to navigate their way through a tough fixture and back into the finals, and are hopeful Hansen is one player who can provide a lift.

Having finally nailed down a role as a key forward in the second half of last year, the 24-year-old has returned from the off-season ready to go and has been one of the standouts on the training track.

But more impressive has been Hansen's work in the gym, where he has added six kilograms of bulk by lifting a volume of weights his troublesome shoulders have not allowed him to in the past.

Perhaps even more crucially is the feeling that a significant event in his private life has brought about a more mature mindset.

Hansen and his partner welcomed a baby boy about a month ago, and the Roos big man said the arrival had made him do some growing up.

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''As soon as I found out I was going to have a kid, it all of a sudden turned me into the 30-year-old I feel like now,'' he said.

''As soon as it happened, it was like, 'wow, it's real now, I've got someone else to look after, not just myself'.

''It's going to be different, but I'm going to really enjoy it. Since he's been home, it's been some of the best days I've had in my life.''

Hansen, who signed a two-year deal late last year to end trade speculation, said the new addition to his life was turning out to be the type of healthy distraction from football he needed.

''As soon as I get to work, I get into it, do my footy and then come home - look forward to getting home - and spending the rest of the night with him,'' he said. ''Even cleaning nappies, you don't mind doing it at this stage because they are only cute little things.''

Hansen said this had been the first of seven pre-seasons where his body had allowed him to complete almost all of the training and conditioning, save for a two-week lay-off because of a minor foot complaint.

After playing 67 games in five seasons, Hansen's career was at a crossroads in 2012 - even more so when he was stuck in the VFL for the first 12 rounds.

But the forward forced his way into the senior team and managed to stay there by establishing a meaningful role in a three-pronged attack with fellow big men Drew Petrie and Robbie Tarrant.

Hansen finished fifth for contested marks and proved a sharp-shooter in front of goal, posting 20.4.

Hansen said he now felt like he belonged in the senior squad and that he, Petrie and Tarrant had built a strong chemistry.

''Once I got back into the team I thought I had a nice end to the year and I'm confident in my body and the way I've been playing recently that I'll be able to back it up this year, and hopefully do it for the whole season.''